This biennial program pairs informative educational sessions presented by industry experts with a trade show. More than 14 sessions are offered over two days to highlight new technologies, best practices and address challenges found with utility pole structures and related overhead systems. Engineers, operations and purchasing personnel from utilities and service companies from throughout Western North America have the opportunity to network at the interactive trade show open throughout the conference. The trade show features more than 40 vendors offering hands-on demonstrations of the latest pole products and innovations in the industry. Vendors encouraged to display.
General Details
- Program Chair(s)
- Doug Thomas, Engineer, Cowlitz PUD
- Program Location
- Embassy Suites Hotel Portland-Airport
- 7900 Northeast 82nd Avenue
Portland, OR 97220 - Who Should Attend
- Engineering professionals
- Operations managers
- Purchasing professionals
- Materials managers
- Environmental professionals
- Utility pole program and project managers
- Service companies providing pole and overhead structure materials, treatments, or related products.
- Registration Options
Conference Registration: $449 USD
Registration prices increase $100 after August 20, 2019. Registration includes meeting materials, breakfasts, lunches, and networking reception.
For vendor registration options, please see the Vendor Displays tab.
- General Cancellation Policy
- Due to contractual obligations, cancellations received 15 business days prior to the program will receive a full refund. Cancellations received 6 to 14 business days prior to the event will receive a refund, less a $100 administrative fee. No shows and last minute cancellations, 5 business days prior to the event or less, will be responsible for the full registration fee. Substitutions from your organization for the same event are always welcome.
- Participation Policy
- Western Energy Institute programs and events are open to energy companies (including gas production and electric generation, gas and electric transmission and gas and electric distribution utilities). Select programs and events are open to energy industry product and service suppliers. Programs and events are closed to all media representatives and to the general public.
- For more information contact Kristen Taylor, Program Manager at (971) 255-4969.
Agenda
Wednesday, September 11, 2019
7:00 AM - 8:00 AM
Registration and Breakfast
8:00 AM - 8:15 AM
Welcome and Conference Overview
Speaker(s): Doug Thomas, Senior Engineer, Cowlitz County PUD
8:15 AM - 9:00 AM
Keynote
9:00 AM - 9:45 AM
Poles Structures Part I - Wood, Steel, Fiberglass
Speaker(s): Butch Bernhardt, Sr. Program Manager, Western Wood Preservers Institute, Jesse Saunders, Director of Operations, FRP Transmission Innovations, Chris Evans, Marketing Services, Valmont Utility
Utility pole specialists will explain the advantages of each pole material as we explore the differences between the materials and discuss when to use each to its best advantage.
9:45 AM - 10:15 AM
Break with Vendor Displays
10:15 AM - 11:15 AM
Poles Structures Part II - Ductile Steel, Concrete, Q&A
Speaker(s): Chris Evans, Marketing Services, Valmont Utility, Warren Stewart, Director of Sales and Marketing, McWane Poles
Utility pole specialists will explain the advantages of each pole material as we explore the differences between the materials and discuss when to use each to its best advantage.
11:15 AM - 12:00 PM
Managing Vast Overhead Asset Data for Decision Making
Speaker(s): Dan Nunez, Civil Engineer, Bonneville Power Administration
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Lunch with Vendor Displays
1:30 PM - 2:15 PM
Pole Replacement Panel: Asset Management Approaches West of the Cascades
Speaker(s): Jerry Donovan, Senior Project Manager, Portland General Electric, Kevin Gowan, T&D Asset Management Supervisor, Puget Sound Energy
This session will consist of a panel of Asset Management specialists from several utilities West of the Cascades. Each utility will present on their Asset Management strategies with respect to pole replacements followed by a Q&A. Attend this session to learn about different techniques used for life extension of existing assets, the development of effective asset management practices, and other maintenance strategies to reduce life-cycle cost while maintaining transmission system performance.
2:15 PM - 3:00 PM
Managing Deterioration – Steel Structures and Foundations
Speaker(s): Kevin Niles, Product Manager, Corrosion Engineer, Osmose Utilities Services, Inc.
3:00 PM - 3:15 PM
Break with Vendor Displays
3:15 PM - 4:00 PM
Pole Replacement Panel: Asset Management Approaches East of the Cascades
Speaker(s): Mark Gabert, Wood Pole Management, Avista Utilities, Steve Hess, Operations & Engineering Manager, Midstate Electric Cooperative
This session will consist of a panel of Asset Management specialists from several utilities East of the Cascades. Each utility will present on their Asset Management strategies with respect to pole replacements followed by a Q&A. Attend this session to learn about different techniques used for life extension of existing assets, the development of effective asset management practices, and other maintenance strategies to reduce life-cycle cost while maintaining transmission system performance.
4:00 PM - 4:45 PM
Pole Remediation in Dry Climates
Speaker(s): Matt Konkler, Faculty Research Assistant, Oregon State University, Jed Cappellazzi, Faculty Research Assistant, Oregon State University
4:45 PM - 6:45 PM
Reception with Vendor Displays
Thursday, September 12, 2019
7:30 AM - 8:00 AM
Breakfast
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Small Cell - Working Together to Achieve a Successful Deployment
Speaker(s): Jaime Breckenridge, Utility Joint Use Specialist, Eugene Water & Electric Board, Scott Ziska, Wireless Program Manager, Portland General Electric
This session will discuss the details of the coordination necessary for utilities and telecom to work together to install, inspect, and maintain joint assets on individual poles. The presentation will be given jointly by the EWEB and PGE joint use coordinators. Topics covered include: how many different people/companies are involved in JU decisions, EWEB and PGE standards – their similarities and differences, JU application process, make-ready timelines, should you use contractors or line crews to install, what training is needed, what challenge is coming next.
9:00 AM - 9:45 AM
What does the Joint Use Specialist consider that you don't?
Speaker(s): Maureen Nave, Manager Joint Use and Permits, Snohomish County PUD
9:45 AM - 10:15 AM
Break with Vendor Displays + Hotel Checkout
10:15 AM - 11:00 AM
Above Ground Pole Management
Speaker(s): Jerry Donovan, Senior Project Manager, Portland General Electric, Patrick Simons, Senior Engineer, Idaho Power Company
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Training for the Utility Pole Inspector
Speaker(s): Joel Rowe Sr., Director, Operations Support, Osmose Utilities Services, Inc.
Inspecting the nation’s electrical and telecom infrastructure is challenging work for sure, but the impact on system safety, reliability and resiliency makes it a noble pursuit. Identifying perfectly good or obviously bad poles can be relatively easy, but everything in between requires substantially more technical expertise than most people would assume. In this presentation, Joel will discuss the important ingredients in the selection of a pole inspection candidate and the knowledge that makes them proficient. Whether you need to train one or a dozen pole inspectors, you will benefit from this information.
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Lunch with Vendor Displays
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Upcoming Changes in Fire and Vegetation Management
Speaker(s): Shane Vosberg, Sr. Corporate Safety Trainer, Asplundh Construction, LLC
2:30 PM - 3:00 PM
Open Roundtable Q&A
Speaker(s): Doug Thomas, Senior Engineer, Cowlitz County PUD
3:00 PM - 3:15 PM
Closing Comments
Speaker(s): Doug Thomas, Senior Engineer, Cowlitz County PUD
3:15 PM - 3:45 PM
Conference Wrap Up
Those wishing to serve on the next planning committee are welcome to attend
Hotel + Travel
- Embassy Suites Hotel Portland-Airport
- 7900 Northeast 82nd Avenue
- Portland, Oregon 97220
- Phone: 503-460-3000
Click here to make your reservation now.
- Reservation Instructions
Please contact the hotel directly at (503) 460-3000 to reserve your room. Identify yourself as being with Western Energy Institute and use the group code ‘WEI’ to receive a special rate of $179 USD/night. This rate is guaranteed until August 20, 2019 or until the WEI room block is full.
Vendor Displays
Registration Options
Member (WEI or NWPPA) Attendee + Vendor Display Table: $649 USD
Regular Attendee + Vendor Display Table: $2,048 USD
Registration prices increase $100 after August 20, 2019. Registration includes meeting materials, breakfasts, lunches, and networking reception, and a vendor booth in the exhibit hall. If you are a current member of NWPPA but do not see the Member rate, please call 503.231.1994 and we can process your registration over the phone.
Vendor Display Assistant tickets are available for $299 and include exhibit hall, lunches, and networking reception. This ticket does not include meeting materials or session attendance.
Shipping Information
Embassy Suites Portland Airport
Attn: Receiving
7900 Northeast 82nd Avenue
Portland, OR 97220
Packages should arrive no earlier than three days prior to the conference start date. All packages should include: WEI Utility Pole + Overhead Systems Conference, September 11-12, 2019, and the Number of Boxes.
Vendor Display Schedule
Wednesday, September 11, 2019
Set Up: 7:00 AM – 9:45 AM
Display Times: 9:45 AM – 6:45 PM
9:45 AM – 10:15 AM – Break with Vendors
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM – Lunch with Vendors
2:45 PM – 3:15 PM – Break With Vendors
4:45 PM – 6:45 PM – Reception with Vendors
Thursday, September 12, 2019
Display Times: 9:45 AM – 1:30 PM
Tear Down: 1:30 PM
9:45 AM – 10:15 AM – Break with Vendors
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM – Lunch with Vendors
Vendor Display Map
